Chapter Forty Five
Carly
I awoke to sunlight streaming in the window and the feeling of arms wrapped around me. It only took seconds for the pain from my injuries to elicit a whimper from between my lips.
The arms around me gently released me, the bed shifted, and I found myself looking up into Gio's dark, chocolate eyes. "It wasn't a dream. You really did find me."
"Si, I really did find you. I am so sorry I failed you,Amore."
"What are you talking about? You didn't fail me."
"Si, I did,” he insisted. “I promised I would keep you safe and I didn't. I failed."
The heartbreak in his eyes hurt my own heart. I lifted a finger to his lips. "No, Gio. You couldn't have known. You were looking for my stalker, you couldn't have known...Gio, this was Chablis.Sheset this up. She setmeup. Before he started cutting me, he told me I fucked with the wrong woman. He said 'too bad I have to carve up that pretty face. Let's see how much he'll want you after I'm done'. She's jealous you chose me."
"I will kill her."
"Not if I do it first." The look on Gio's face was priceless. "I did grow up in the lower 9th Ward. I might be a little more refined, now, but when you grow up in such a rough neighborhood, you learn how to survive. That's why I had to get Eli out of that neighborhood. Hollygrove might not be a lot better, but it's a step in the right direction."
It hurt like hell to talk, so when Gio handed me a pain killer, I swallowed it without argument.
"I don't want her to know that we know she was behind my attack."
"What are you thinking,Bella? I can see the wheels turning."
"Invite her here. Tell her you want to talk about the manager's position. Let her think you're having second thoughts about giving it to me. But I don't want Eli here. I don't want him to know the truth about my injuries."
"Devious. I like it."
He pressed a gentle kiss to my lips and I sighed. "I have my moments."
"When do you wish to put your plan in motion?"
"Now. Before she realizes you've already found me."
"I will make the calls. Rest,Tesoro. I will bring breakfast up to you."
"Okay. If Eli is awake, will you send him in, please?"
"Of course."
We shared a kiss before he left to make the necessary arrangements.
A short while later, the door opened and Eli came rushing in. He froze, halfway to the bed, and I knew it had just registered that I was hurt.
"Mama? What...what happened?" His voice choked on a sob and I held my arms out to him.
"It's all right,Mia Vita. There was an accident and I was injured. The doctor patched me up and said I would heal." I knew there would be scars, though. I hated lying to my son, but I couldn't tell him the truth. Not about this.
Eli crawled onto the bed with me and sniffled. "I don't wanna hurt you."
"Shh. Come here." I pulled him close and kissed the top of his head. "You aren't. You couldn't."
We were still cuddled together when Gio arrived with breakfast.
"Good morning, Eli. Mama is taking Matteo and some of the other children to Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and wants to know if you'd like to go with them."
I felt Eli's excitement before he even spoke. "Can I, Mama?"
"Of course you can,Amato."Thank you, I mouthed to Gio where Eli couldn't see me.
"Yes! Thank you, Mama!"
"Eat your breakfast then. They'll be here soon," Gio told him.
I couldn't help but laugh a little at the way he scarfed down his waffles. I watched as he scurried out of the room so he could get dressed. "I think I'm going to take a nap. Let me know when she's on her way?"
"Of course,Bella. Rest."
I let a few tears trickle out once he'd kissed my temple and left, then closed my eyes and let myself get some much needed rest. I was going to need all the strength I could get once Chablis was here.
